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[omegod]

I'm finding that 98/99 BMW 7 series are looking like stonkingly good value and can't promise the next decent LPG'd 735 or 740 one that appears won't end up on my driveway !

Nowt wrong with the silver bullet but getting itchy feet.

Any thoughts on the 7 series ?

[feeutfo]

Come on Del boy, nows your chance. 

[jonnycool]

I'd have one if I could afford it 

[Del Boy]

E38 7 Series - Get the 740i 286 BHP, LPG it will be very good, 735i feels a bit underpowered, very comfy, lovely to drive, look great, very reliable. Things to watch out for suspension bushes, tie rods and stabliser joints, other than that make sure it's been well serviced and all the electrics work, don't buy a manual, try and get one with Sat-Nav and comfort seats and you'll be good to go 

[omegod]

E38 7 Series - Get the 740i 286 BHP, LPG it will be very good, 735i feels a bit underpowered, very comfy, lovely to drive, look great, very reliable. Things to watch out for suspension bushes, tie rods and stabliser joints, other than that make sure it's been well serviced and all the electrics work, don't buy a manual, try and get one with Sat-Nav and comfort seats and you'll be good to go 

Cheers Del, if anyone spies one about give me a nudge

[waspy]

And no one will let out of junctions

[albitz]

E38 - gorgeous car. If I could afford to run one I would buy one in a heartbeat.
As Dell says - suspension bushes etc take a hammering, so look out for that.

[cem_devecioglu]

if you dont have parking problem,

if its serious fuel bills even on lpg dont hurt,
if servicing a v8 is easy for you

and have the budget

then who stop you

[omegod]

if you dont have parking problem,

if its serious fuel bills even on lpg dont hurt,Dont do many miles
if servicing a v8 is easy for you If I can do a v6 DIS pack I can do anything

and have the budgetJust about

then who stop you The missus will try

[Del Boy]

E38 7 Series - Get the 740i 286 BHP, LPG it will be very good, 735i feels a bit underpowered, very comfy, lovely to drive, look great, very reliable. Things to watch out for suspension bushes, tie rods and stabliser joints, other than that make sure it's been well serviced and all the electrics work, don't buy a manual, try and get one with Sat-Nav and comfort seats and you'll be good to go 

Cheers Del, if anyone spies one about give me a nudge

What's your budget mate, if you don't mind my asking?

[belldarr]

As an ex 740 owner avoid the early V8 cars as they had a nikasil issue - well documented if you google it - basically premature bore wear, mine had a replacement engine at 60,000 miles, also auto gearboxes are weak (mine had 2 from BMW before it was 6 years old) and pixels in the dashboard readout fail - and as previously stated expect new bushes frequently - also really wooly steering is the norm - but other than those few niggles they are a really nice car - plenty about and fuel prices have hammered their values so be choosy.

Hope that all helps

Darren,

[henryd]

As an ex 740 owner avoid the early V8 cars as they had a nikasil issue - well documented if you google it - basically premature bore wear, mine had a replacement engine at 60,000 miles, also auto gearboxes are weak (mine had 2 from BMW before it was 6 years old) and pixels in the dashboard readout fail - and as previously stated expect new bushes frequently - also really wooly steering is the norm - but other than those few niggles they are a really nice car - plenty about and fuel prices have hammered their values so be choosy.

Hope that all helps

Darren,

new engine and gearbox are bloody big niggles in my book

[Shimmy]

My dad had an E38 735i for about 8 years, very nice solid car.  Good drive and still looks good.

It always develops a niggle, sooner rather than later.  Dad originally bought the car for about £12k at 3 years old, he spent more than that fixing it over the next 8 years I'm certain!

Eventually got rid of it when the 'lifetime' timing chain went and mullered the engine.

[russ0205]

Early v8s had the same problem as the jag v8 with the liners but surely by now they should have self destruct or a new engine damm good car tho would love one but swmbo and lloyds say NO !!!! mate of mine had the 540 v8 and you didn't need a stereo the engine note was awsome.

 

[ninjapirate]

ive had a few 7 series, the 735 isnt a bad car but the 740 really was much nicer, iirc early cars had some engine issues, if a good one comes up its worth a look through the history just incase its had a replacemnt engine.
they are amazing value for money now, generaly reliable and not hard to work on.
i did hear some bad things about the 740 on lpg, so worth a google, but then some ppl say that about anything on lpg, ive just removed the lpg from my boat, which has cost me thousands in repairs grr, but that is a much much older type system on 5.7 v8s and rochester carbs......